Liberty University’s Office of Equity & Compliance (OEC), in pursuing its mission of protecting and advocating for the safety and well-being of Liberty students, is creating more ways of raising awareness for important issues on campus, updating its reporting system, and growing its team of Title IX professionals.
The OEC is responsible for administering the sexual misconduct policy, the equal opportunity policy, and reporting violations under the Jeanne Clery Act.
“Our office exists to be a safe environment for students, and we also want it to be supportive,” said Vice President of Equity Compliance Ashley Reich. “We want it to be a neutral process, because that is what Title IX is supposed to be. ‘Safe, Supportive, and Neutral’ is our tagline because it encompasses what we do as an office and how we serve our Liberty students and community.”
Throughout the month of April, nationally recognized as Sexual Assault Awareness Month, the office created on-campus opportunities to share statistics and resources and arranged for the Freedom Tower to be lit in teal, the color designated for sexual assault awareness, every Wednesday of the month. This spring, the OEC also highlighted Stalking Awareness Month in January and promoted healthy relationships in February.
The office launched a new Title IX course for employees and is working on a student course, including training for new and returning Resident Assistants, Resident Shepherds, and Resident Directors in the fall.
In April, the OEC held an open house at its new office in DeMoss Hall. The office welcomed a new Title IX Coordinator, Nathan Friesema, and three new investigators.
Reich said students can play a key role by being responsible and proactive advocates for their peers.
“Students can assist us by being ambassadors for Title IX. If they hear of something that needs to be reported, they can encourage their friends that this is a safe space for them. We really want the students to be the champions of that.”
To learn more, visit Liberty.edu/Title-IX. Read more at Liberty.edu/News
